Friday, June 29, 2012

Area runners fail to advance in Olympic 1500 trials


Neither former Riverbank High School star German Fernandez nor former Modesto High runner Matt Maldonado advanced in the 1500-meters semi-finals at the Olympic trials in Eugene, Ore., June 29.

Both had run fast enough times to advance from the prelims into the semis.

There were two semi heats, and the top five in each heat, plus the next two fastest times, advanced to the finals.

Maldonado, a junior at Long Beach State, ran in the first heat, clocking 3:52.95. He was 10th in the heat.

Fernandez, who graduated this spring from Oklahoma State University, ran in the second and faster heat. He ran 3:43.78, finishing 11th in the heat.

The 1500-meter finals will be run July 1.

Sunday, June 24, 2012

Records fall at Western States 100

Blessed with unusually cool conditons, Timothy Olson of Oregon blasted through the 100.2-mile course from Squaw Valley to Auburn to set a new Western States 100 course record, June 23-24.

Olson ran 14:46:44, eclipsing the old course record set by Geoff Roes of 15:07:04 in 2010.

Olson is a former drug addict who turned to ultra-running for therapy. Read his story by clicking here.

Setting a new women's course record was Ellie Greenwood of Canada with 16:47:19.

She broke the long-held record of 17:37:51 set by Ann Trayson in 1994.

These are the results for Central Valley participants:

• Mike Bohi, 94 (bib number for tracking). Finished in 28:10:05.

• Jeanne Kysar-Carey, 252. Finished in 28:46:16.

• Karen Lozano, 124. Dropped at Rucky Chucky near, about 70 miles into the race.

Jon Olsen, 298 (Olsen was recently recognized by the state Legislature for his performances at the world ultra-running championships and his 24-hour run. He ran more than 158 miles in 24 hours. Read more about him on Multidays.com.) Finished 21st male in 18:23:12.

• Nile Sousa, 360. Finished in 27:42:07

View the complete finishers list at Western States 100.

Read about an accompanying research study of ultra-marathoners' gates and their impact on muscle damage in the Sacramento Bee.